Mower County transcript. [volume] (Lansing, Minn.) 1868-1915, 1887-12-28
JINKSEY'S MISTAKE:

En- - --A,ana N. Pratt.
JINKSEY'S MISTAKE;
And How "Billy" Found a Home
at Cedar Farm
"Say, Jinksey, wot d. yer think Of that
fur stylea reckon she's come inter town
to buy the Liberty statue for somebody's
New Years present, an amt quite sure
how she'll carry it home"
Jinksey turned as his companion, rather
disreputable looking young gentleman in
the boot blackening business, thus called
his attention to a little girl about ten years
of age, who, with the most disconsolate OK
preston. of face, was coming timidly out
Of the Grand Central depot That she had
never been in the city before one could
fancy from the alarm she exhibited at find
ing herself in the hurrying, bustling crowd,
where the yells Of the cab-drivers drowned
even the rattle Of wheels on the pavement,
and made what, to ears unaccustomed to
such noises, must have sounded like the
roar OF a supposed ogre in a fairy tale.
''Wanter shinea" Jinksey's friend cried,
culated to yet further confuse the fright
ened stranger, and pointed to her thick
shoes, which betckened intimate acquain-
lance with country roads. "Give yer boss
shine fur dime, an two tickets to the
Eden Museum thrown inv
s.Hold on, Bill! the lady's lookin' fur
cab, an hasn't got any time to fool with
you," Jinksey shouted, as he pulled his
friend aside, and stepped forward with q
grotesQue show Of MOCK politeness as il to
head her to one of the many vehicles that
were ranged in line at the edge of tho curb
stone.
The little girl looked around in be-
wiidered fear, seeking some one to whom
she could appeal for protection against the
rough-appearing and decidedly officious
boys; but in vain. The policeman had
other work on hand just then. and every
person near was so engrossed with business
Or pleasure that a frightened child was not
likely to attract much attention.
''Shall show yer the way to the Bruins
wick, or are yer waiting fur the Mayor to
come! He's jest havin' swell dinner
with q partic'lar friend Of ourn, an Ireckon
he's forgot what time the cars get here"
and Billy concluded his information by
giving representation to the best of his
knowledge, OF an Indian war dance, such
a. he had seen at the Wild West show.
From the whirling, shrieking boy to the
hurrying pedestrians the girl gazed in
piteous appeal until the big tears, which
had been standing very near her eyelids
when she emerged from the building be-
gan to run down over the cheeks which the
hast wind Of the old year was tinging
blush hue.
The sight Of the crystal drops, together
with the imploring glances, brought Master
Billy Jackson to a staudstin very suddenly,
and he criedsin an angry tone as he swung
his business es* Establishment, represented by
q box containing backing and brushes,
dangerously near his friends head:
''Wot's Their use pickin' on little girl
what amt got nobody to take her part, Tim
jerks? Why don't you let her alone while
she finds whoever she's lookin' for?'
II ain't a pickin' on her," Jinksey replied,
enphatically, for his conscience was prick
ing him very sharply because of the part
he had played in calling forth the tears.
''Say, sis, tell us where you wanter 60, an
We'll take you there, il It's plum over to
Hoboken."
The child walked on as If anxious to es-
cape from those whom she quite naturally
looked upon as her tormentOrs, and the
boys followed her contritely, each trying to
atone by friendly speeches for the distress
he bad caused.
'sDon't cry, sissy: we won't cut up rough
any more, an we wouldn't "a done 1t at the
start it we'd "a knowed you felt SO bad"
Billy pleaded, after they had followed her
as far as Fifth avenue, and she stood on
the corner undecided which way to turn.
'sWhere is it yer wanter go7'
sGrandfather wrote that he'd cone for
me when the cars got In, and can't find
him anywhere. I was going home with
him to stay week, AID now he's lost
he's--'
It was as If giving words to her trouble
had caused it to increase, and she burst
into such food of tears that the boys
began in turn to look alarmed.
s'If you hadn't poked fun at her first I'd
never said a word" Master Jackson cried,
reproachfully, and looking very much as il
whipped, as sort OF safety-valve for the
Indignation which had been aroused by his
own behavior.
= Jinksey probably realized that the reproof
was we'll merited, even though he had not
begun the cruel sport, for he made no asgry
reply, as would have been the case under
other circumstances, but devoted his entire
attention to soothing the child's grief.
"See here" he said. as he laid his some
what soiled hand kindly on her shoulder.
"l'm mighty sorry we made yer feel bad.
an We won't even zip ag'in il that1l make
It square; but If you could tell US where
you live. or where Their old mani mean
yer gran father-lives jest as likely as not
we could help you some" z-s-...: f=.:.s II ~
II came from Say brook, and grandf ather's
farm is somewhere In q place they call
Long Island" q r
.'Didn't you have anybody with YOUR (.
mo; he was going to meet me at the
depot, SO mother thought could come
al0ne," and now the grief was represented
4 by sobs, rather than tears, SO bling was
the show Of sympathy made BY her COM
panions. NV hatwill dot How can find
himr =,:,5& s. e
..Jinksey an I'll have to fix that some
way; but / don't know jest how yet. W OTIS
yer RameW
. Daley Pratt, an I've 80. twenty-five